Undergraduate Program Requirements
Major, Minor, Departmental Honors
The Major in History
The B.A. curriculum in history emphasizes breadth and flexibility. The requirements for the Major are summarized on this page; the complete, official requirements for the Major are listed in the Undergraduate Program Guide. History majors should keep in mind that they must also satisfy the University's General Education requirements and the College of Humanities and Fine Arts requirements.
Declaring your Major in History
History Major Requirements: Check List
History majors must complete 12 courses totalling at least 36 credits with a minimum GPA of 2.0, distributed as follows:
A. Two to five 100-level courses (Required, one pair: Western Thought 100 & 101, World Civilization 110 or 112 & 111, China 114 & 115, Latin America 120 & 121, Middle East 130 & 131, Africa 160 & 161, History of Science 180 & 181. Optional: Up to three other 100-level courses if one is a non-western course.)
B. Six to nine courses 200-499 (Students should keep in mind the pre-1500 and non-western requirements when choosing these courses. )
C. One course numbered 591-595 (Junior Writing Seminar, normally completed in the junior year and no later than the first semester of the senior year. If appropriate, this course may count as a pre-1500 course and one of the two required non-western courses (see below). Junior Year Writing Guidelines.)
D. One course on history before 1500 (A list of courses that meet this requirement is included in the department's course descriptions, updated each semester. If appropriate, the Writing Seminar may satisfy this requirement.)
E. At least two non-western courses (These may be 100-level or upper-level; a fifth 100-level course may be taken to fulfill this requirement. Non-western courses focus on the following areas: Africa, East Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. If appropriate, the Writing Seminar may satisfy one course for this requirement.)
Restrictions
No upper-level history course may be taken elsewhere without prior approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies. Majors, including transfer students, must take a minimum of four upper-level courses in the department.
History courses taken Pass/Fail will not be counted toward requirements for a major.
No history course in which a grade below C- has been earned will satisfy requirements for the major.
Majors may count no more than 20 history courses toward the B.A. degree (a total of no more than 60 credits, in lower- and upper-level work).
The Minor in History
Minor in History Requirements
Declaration of an Academic Minor - Registrar's Office
The requirements for the Minor are summarized on this page; the complete, official requirements for the Minor are listed in the Undergraduate Program Guide.
An undergraduate minor in History consists of a minimum of 6 courses totaling not less than 18 credits and distributed among lower and upper-level courses in the following manner:
A. No more than two introductory courses (100 level)
B. At least four upper-level courses (200 and above)
Restrictions
Transfer credit toward the minor will be granted for introductory courses only.
The four upper-level courses must be taken through the University of Massachusetts Amherst History Department or from a history department at one of the Four Colleges: Amherst, Hampshire, Mt. Holyoke, or Smith. Exception: One such course may be taken during a Study Abroad semester.
No History course taken on a pass/fail basis or in which a grade below C- has been earned may count toward the minor.
"History" courses taken outside the History Department [e.g., Econ. 306, 361, 362; Journalism 320; Phil. 320, 321; Sport Mgt. 202] do not count under Rule 2 above.
Departmental Honors in History
A Commonwealth College student majoring in History can take 8 or 9 honors courses as follows:
ENGLWP 112H or approved substitute with grade of B or better (or exemption)
GenEd honors couse with grade of B or better*
GenEd "I" honors course with grade of B or better
Dean's Book Series with grades of B or better (three 1-credit courses)
History honors course, any level*
History honors course, any level*
History honors course, 300 or above*
History 499Y, Honors Research
History 499T, Honors Thesis, or 499P, Honors Paper
*One of the three History honors courses may also satisfy the GenEd honors course requirement if it has a General Education designation.
For advice on your program, contact Sigrid Schmalzer, the Departmental Honors Coordinator. The Commonwealth College website also has useful information. Please see the Course guide for descriptions. If you would like to arrange an Honors Colloquium or Honors Independent Study in conjunction with another course, speak with the professor who is teaching that course.